Andrena fulva, or as it is more commonly known, the Tawny Mining Bee, is one of the most distinctive and obvious of all the spring flying solitary bee species. The males are very different to the females, being much slimmer, covered in less dense orangey brown hair and with a very pronounced tuft of white hairs on the lower face (the female is pictured above).

Peak activity coincides with the flowering periods of fruit trees such as Pear, Cherry and Apple. Andrena fulva nests are constructed in the ground, and the nest entrances are surrounded by a volcano like mound of excavated spoil. Nests are often in loose aggregations in tended lawns, flower beds, mown banks and in sparsely vegetated field margins. Pollen is collected from a wide range of plants including flowering trees and shrubs, weeds and garden species. It is common in gardens, parks, calcareous grassland, orchards and on the edges of cropped agricultural land.

www.uknature.co.uk is a website dedicated to showing the immense diversity of UK nature and wildlife. Our vast range of habitats, from lowland arable to snow covered mountains, from storm-ravaged coastlines to peaceful inland freshwater lakes and rivers, from dry, sandy heaths to deciduous and coniferous forests, all these habitats contribute to the abundance of UK nature. We have wild birds in huge numbers either residing or visiting our shores (597 recorded species as at July 2013) and we must also not forget the humble back garden with its grass lawns, flower beds filled with nectar rich flowers, shrubs and trees, all designed to attract huge numbers of insects such as bees, moths, butterflies and hoverflies; and finally the small ponds which provide safe havens for frogs, toads, newts and even slow worms and grass snakes. www.uknature.co.uk is the showcase for my personal passion, photographing uknature in all its glory. I sincerely hope you all enjoy the fruits of my labours.